Yes to a Newtown Lane Fair

A festival and street fair proposed for May 20 on Newtown Lane by the executive director of the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce became official on Friday when the East Hampton Village Board voted to approve a special live entertainment permit.

The festival, pitched to the board by Steven Ringel, who succeeded Marina Van at the chamber in November, is to include a stage for bands, a children’s activities area, and approximately 40 booths in the center of Newtown Lane for artists and nonprofit organizations. The festival is intended to highlight the street’s brick-and-mortar shops and encourage people to shop and eat at the commercial district’s businesses, which Mr. Ringel had said at a previous meeting would be encouraged to offer sales and discounted meals.

In other news from the brief meeting, the board unanimously passed an amendment to the village code pertaining to mass assemblages that authorizes the board to establish fees for mass-assembly permit applications. Previously, no fee was attached to such permits.

The amendment also provides that events held on public property require a permit regardless of the number of people expected to attend, and requires applicants to be responsible for disposal of all debris.

Last month, Becky Molinaro, the village administrator, told the board that use of village property had substantially increased over the last few years, particularly on beaches and roadways, with many events making use of caterers.

In a separate resolution after the vote to amend the code, the board set the fees Ms. Molinaro had proposed last month. For village residents and nonresidents who are emergency medical service personnel, no fee will be assessed for gatherings of fewer than 50 people. Residents and nonresident E.M.S. personnel will be assessed a $100 fee for gatherings greater than 50 people.

A nonresident or commercial applicant using village property will be assessed a $500 fee, as will any application for a catered event. For events that use a village beach parking lot for overflow parking, a $250 fee will apply.

The board also voted to reduce the speed limit on LaForest Lane from 30 to 25 miles per hour.